HURRICANES RESUME WORK FOR GEORGIA TECH

HURRICANES RESUME WORK FOR GEORGIA TECH

Oct. 10, 2007

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – With rain clouds swirling around the Greentree Practice Fields, the University of Miami football team rattled off a quick practice Wednesday afternoon. Miami faces Georgia Tech Saturday at noon on ESPN in the only game that UM will play at the Orange Bowl in October.

Miami practiced for about one hour and 30 minutes continuing preparation for the Yellow Jackets. UM underwent a spirited practice Tuesday afternoon that lasted more than two hours.

The Hurricanes (4-2, 1-1 ACC) face a Georgia Tech (3-3, 1-3 ACC) team that leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing offense, averaging 199.3 yards per game. Tech is third in the ACC in total offense. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets lead the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 10.33 per game. The unit also ranks second nationally in sacks with 26 and rushing defense, holding opponents to 68.5 yards per game. Miami is ninth nationally with 22 sacks. In ACC play thus far, UM is the second-rated offense averaging 420.5 yards per game. UM offensive coordinator Patrick Nix spent the previous five seasons at Georgia Tech, where he was the offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. He helped Tech to an ACC Championship game appearance last season.

“He’s (Nix) a good coach,” UM head coach Randy Shannon said. “He does a great job with the quarterbacks. He does a great job with the offense and communicating with the kids. We’re very proud to have him at the University of Miami.”

Shannon also said his players have responded to his challenge of starting fast. He was asked about the team’s edge that they’ve shown in practice the first two days coming off Saturday’s disappointing loss at North Carolina. “That’s a good sign, but now they have to do it on game day,” Shannon said. “You can have the edge in practice, which is good. It means you understand what you need to get done as far as the tempo and sense of urgency. Now, when game time comes, have that same edge and sense of urgency.”

Shannon had no update on sophomore linebacker Colin McCarthy, who sustained a mild concussion in Saturday’s game at North Carolina.

Miami will hold its final practice of the week at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Greentree Practice Fields.